Chapter 2
The weather outside was rubbish, and he found himself throwing a pity party in the great hall, his chess board set up in from of him.
A hand on his shoulder startled him but then he heard-
“Murphy?” Iris called his name, in such a sweet tone he felt his shoulders relax. She sat down across from him, “are you playing wizard chess... By yourself?” She asked him. His heart nearly sung her a song when he laid eyes on her. She looked well rested, and was wearing a dress. It was silly, but he knew that recently Iris had been sliding by and letting her feminine side hide under baggy clothing and dark colors. It was a olive green color, but it was better then the sweaters and sweat pants she had been in. She looked like she was blooming again and he felt ease overwhelm him.
“I'm running through some potential new strategies in my head. Afraid to say I've been doing that a lot lately. You've been busy and I haven't had a worthy opponent to play against, Iris.” He told her and she chuckled, picking up and moving a pawn. He felt himself smile as he moved his first piece.
“I've been the one in a glum mood, but now it seems like it's your turn. You're not acting like the fast talking, statistic slinging guy I know.” Pawn to D3.
“Well, now that you mention it... I am feeling 36.8% more glum than usual.” He told her honestly, moving his pawn to D6.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She asked him honestly, and he rested his head on the back of his hand, looking at her fondly.
“If there is one thing that always makes me feel better, it is talking.”
“Then tell me what's on your mind.”
“Well, I went into Diagon Alley, I had to replace my Transfiguration book.”
“Did Kneil get another one?” She asked laughing.
“Indeed he did,” he moved his knight to counter her rook. “Well, Flourish and Blotts is hosting a chess tournament.”
“That's sounds perfect! Why aren't you happy?”
“I want to sign up for the tournament, but I can't. It requires a team of people, not just one person.”
“That's it?” Iris asked, catching him off guard.
“That's it? This is a big deal, a huge deal! This isn't some old men sitting in the park kind of players! Celine Castillion is the top-ranked player in the Wizarding World and she will be there! She's the number one student player in the world! The world! They call her the 'Matagot of Wizard Chess', because she's such a beast when she competes!” While he couldn't read her thoughts, he almost swore he saw Iris's eyes grow dark at the infatuation he showed towards this other girl.
“I see.” She stamped her queen down on the board a little roughly. “Check.”
“I've been following her rise to stardom for years, and I'd give anything to see her play.”
“Then you should play.”
“I would if I could, but it would take a team of four people.”
“You and me, that's two, we're halfway there.” Iris told him as he quickly ducked out of her check. “We an form a chess team to represent Hogwarts.”
“Iris, that's brilliant! You would do that for me!”
“Of course.”
“Well, forming a top notch chess team will be more difficult than a Seeker trying to catch a Snitch in their sleeve! It's really sweet, but I know you have a lot going on right now, why go to such great lengths to help me, Iris?”
“I want to spend time with you.” His heart nearly soared when she told him that. “Life has been busy, and I think the distraction would be good. Plus, I can tell that this chess tournament is something really important to you.” She told him with a smile that seemed to light up her face. “This should be some quality bonding time together. The last time we spent one on one time together was... Well, depressing.”
He nodded, remembering it solemnly.
Rowans funeral had happened, and he had watched Iris stand at the front of the congregation of students, lacking any of her usual light. When it was over, the crowd disbursed into silence, heading back to their respective houses. He had tried to find Iris amid the forest of legs and students but lost her. Once in the Gryffindor tower, he was able to ask around and found out that she had went to meet with a few of the Professor's and Dumbledore. So he parked his wheelchair in front of the fire and waited.
He hand't cared how long he had to wait, someone was going to be there for Iris when she returned. He had watched Iris over the years bear the burden for everyone in her life, weather it had to do with the cursed Vaults, or Quidditch, and even getting pulled into matters that had nothing to do with her. Iris was there, she was the one everyone turned to when they needed help or a problem solved. It was her turn to have someone be there for her.
It was well past curfew when Iris finally stumbled through the Fat Lady portrait. Because it was so quiet, he could hear her quiet sobbing as she tried to catch her breath. He turned in his chair and saw her close the door behind her.
“Iris?” Watching her visibly jump because she thought everyone would be in bed made him feel worse about the whole situation. Everything about her face looked so ill fitting for her, everything was swollen, her eyes, her cheeks, even her lips. Her light blue eyes were bloodshot and had dark rings under them, making them appear sunken and sickly. He could see her fumbling with words but eventually just give up as her bottom lip began to quiver. He quickly rolled over towards her and when he was close, her legs gave out beneath her and she just toppled into his lap and began to wail. She was draped over his legs and gripped onto the bottom of his shirt and one of his pant-legs to keep herself fro falling completely to the floor.
Murphy blinked back his own tears, her grief broke his heart. He cradled the back of her head in his hand, while the other rubbed along her shoulder. She eventually tilted her head up and the two of them locked eyes, her chest heaved from gasping for air and she actually tried to speak.
“Murphy, I...”
“Shh. You don't need to explain anything to me or apologize for anything. I'm here, and this is the only place I want to be right now.” He assured her. There was relief across her face and she was able to push herself up enough to wrap her arms around his neck and shoulders. He pulled her legs up over the arm of his chair, and cradled her like a parent comforting their child.
“Well, I'm honored you want to spend what little free time you have with me.” He told her backing her King into a corner. “I'm happy o report that the feeling is 100.1% mutual. Let the McNully-Rosewood adventure commence. Check.”
“Where shall we begin, Murphy?”
“We have a lot of work to do before we'll be ready to take on Celine Castillion and her team at the tournament. Our first step though will be getting a Professor's permission.”
“Oh, I know! Professor McGonagall will be perfect! I know she loves wizard chess, because I played it with her during the Teacher Appreciation Celebration.”
“Yes!” He agreed excitedly. “McGonagall is a brilliant strategist and a wizard chess master in her own right, she'll be perfect!” He pounded his hands on the table, and watched as a twinkle returned to Iris's eyes.
“Then let's pay her a visit, and see if she'll give us permission to form a team!”
“Right now?”
“Right now!” Iris stood up and flicked her King over. “You have me in a check mate anyway.” She winked. The pair quickly packed up his chess set and headed out to the Transfiguration classroom.